This is part 2 of a series of posts describing how I wrote my noir fantasy, The Lords of Powder (check the book out at Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3aCj8PZ ).
The story takes place mostly in 1978 Miami where the main character, the magician Bradan, has become a smuggler using his magical talents to evade the authorities and violent rivals. He’s nearly immortal though he only looks 30 years old (he’s aged slowly and is an old soul in a young body). The novel has three flashbacks to other times in his long, chequered life to give readers his backstory – and to provide counterpoint to the novel’s main setting, sunny, corrupt Miami. To that point, the flashbacks allow me to echo the themes in the main story.
One of these flashbacks is set a thousand years ago in tenth-century Spain where Bradan is nearly executed as a sorcerer after unintentionally making enemies of nearly every power broker in the Caliph’s court.
Tenth-century Spain and, more specifically, the Caliphate of Córdoba, is a fascinating setting. This was a period of intrigue, battle, and spiritual passion. Under the Caliph Abd al-Rahman III, it was an imperial realm jockeying with contemporary Christian and Islamic powers amidst religious and political strife for dominion of Spain and the Western Mediterranean, but it was also a center of culture and learning. Indeed, Bradan’s love interest in this flashback – and possible savior – is the poet, scribe, and librarian, Lubna of Córdoba. She was evidently an actual historical figure and is variously described, but appears to have been an accomplished member of the Caliph’s court during this period.
So, my noir fantasy has evolved into a sort of mash-up including historical fantasy along with the noir elements. I think the novel is better for it, but I’ll leave this for readers to judge.
Upcoming posts will tell you about flashbacks in The Lords of Powder set in other intriguing periods in Bradan’s life.
I write modern fantasy novels that are hopefully both exciting and literate. These novels include an on-going series about a near-immortal magician who grew up in Camelot and grew famous in San Francisco's 'Summer of Love'. He's still having adventures to this day described in The Lords of the Summer Season, The Lords of Powder, and The Lords of Oblivion. The books can be read in any order.
As author S Alessandro Martinez has stated about the series:
"Lords of Oblivion
A 1500-year-old wizard. A pair of savage druids raised from the dead. Modern day San Francisco. A wolf that takes no gruff. Blaisdell creates a fascinating world in this magical realism novel with smart writing, complex characters, and clever use of history and mythology. I was sucked in from the very beginning. I look forward to more of Bradan and Tintagel's mystical adventures.
Lords of Powder
Merlin's former apprentice, Bradan, is back! The 1500-year-old wizard, who is sometimes too smart for his own good, returns for another exciting adventure, this time in 70s Miami as he takes on the criminal world of drug trafficking. Blaisdell's smart, fast-paced writing and use of fascinating history and mythology keeps you on the edge of your seat as Bradan uses his wits, charm, and illusions to navigate the modern era and get himself into plenty of trouble.
Lords of the Summer Season
Being Merlin's former apprentice and living for 1500 years is bound to make you a few enemies. Travel back to the 60s with Bradan the wizard and his otherworldly wolf Tintagel. As Bradan juggles careers as a professor and musician, he must defend himself from his greatest threat yet: a literal god. Blaisdell continues with his clever, skillful, and imaginative writing that will keep readers eagerly turning the next page. My favorite of the Bradan books, Blaisdell dives deeper into the Arthur mythology, and brings the reader even more elements of magic and folklore, all the while weaving an entertaining tale of gods, wizards, ghosts, and 60s acid rock. Thoroughly enjoyable!"
Besides the literary side of my life, my background includes membership on a scientific advisory board for a non-profit professional organization promoting the biomedical and digital health business community in the greater Los Angeles area.
I’ve authored both basic research publications and business management articles focusing on the bio/pharma industry. My Ph.D. is in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota where I also conducted post-doctoral research in microbiology. And my BS is from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) with a double major in chemistry and cell biology.
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